Coulter Travel

12/10/2026

I’m going to be honest with you. I’ve not paid for an airport lounge in a very long time. I’m usually a Pret matcha latte and almond croissant gal though that doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate the luxury of comfy seats, unlimited food and drink plus peace and quiet. So when we were offered an opportunity to try Birmingham Airport’s newest and most elevated offering, I booked Suite by Aspire in the name of research.

It’s in the freshly refurbished section, just past the brand new Wagamama restaurant and shares a large space with sister lounge Luxe. It’s designed to replicate the feel of a first class lounge with table service and à la carte food options and ultimately, the plan is for business and first class passengers to have access.

It opened in the summer and I sense it’s not well known enough at the moment - we shared the lounge with just two other couples though Luxe next door (£10pp less) was busier. I loved the friendly service and modern decor which was not worn and sticky from high usage. There’s fast wifi, plenty of charging points and a great view. The breakfast food was the same as the buffet food but plated and brought to us in a cheery fashion. They made some great poached eggs especially for us.

It’s not a cheap way to start a trip at £62 per person and you’d want to spend a couple of hours here to maximise your investment. But if you’re about to jet off on a honeymoon or anniversary holiday, it’s a lovely way to start the journey. Our outbound flight was delayed by an hour but I wasn’t mad as I got to spend longer browsing the magazines and watching the planes.

There are now three tiers of Aspire Lounge at Birmingham, plus the Club Rooms so there’s plenty of choice for lounge lovers. With the constant addition of new food outlets (Gails Bakery and a food court are coming) plus the streamlined security process, I can genuinely recommend BHX as a great regional airport option.

12/10/2026

11/10/2026

I N V I S I B L E // but Important ☺️

Our clients sees the holiday they’ve been dreaming of.

They don’t see the hours behind it before it’s even booked.

The flights ruled out because the connection was too tight.
The hotels avoided.
The itinerary tweaked to make the trip flow better.
The suppliers contacted
The potential problems spotted and sorted before they ever became reality.

They see a great holiday. I see all the decisions, details and behind-the-scenes work that made it happen.

Some of the best work is the work nobody ever sees. Which is how it should be and why you use a travel professional who understands the workings and complexities of travel.

Because when everything goes smoothly, the work is invisible and it can look effortless.

But effortless doesn’t mean effort-free.

There’s value in having someone in your corner who knows what they’re doing, cares about getting it right, and is there when things don’t go to plan.

A great travel advisor doesn’t just book the holiday. They make sure it’s the right holiday with your peace of mind attached.

08/10/2026

C L O S U R E

£16600 reimbursed

That’s what our travel insurance has just paid into our bank account following our son’s emergency appendectomy in Beijing four months ago. It covered costs incurred for me to fly out at short notice, our accommodation for 16 nights, the upfront payment we paid for the operation and hospital stay plus outpatient appointments, transfers and an allowance for subsistence. It was a huge, complex claim that involved a mountain of paperwork and multiple emails and calls. Until the money hit our account, there was a nagging doubt if we’d ever see it again!

Having been through this experience, it’s exactly why I will never understand people who see travel insurance as an optional extra.

We didn’t expect it to happen. Travel is an ordinary pursuit that millions of people have the privilege of undertaking.

Then suddenly we were dealing with an emergency medical procedure thousands of miles from home.

The claim took more than three months to resolve. And even then, not everything was recoverable. Insurance covers what the policy says it covers: it doesn’t magically reimburse every pound you spend.

So, three reminders:

1. Buy proper travel insurance. As soon as you book.
Not just the cheapest policy that appears in a search. Check the fine print. Declare your health conditions. Unsuitable travel insurance is as good as no insurance.

2. Have financial resilience.
You may need to pay costs upfront and it may take months for a claim to be processed.

3. Never assume it won’t happen to you.
Because sometimes, it does.

I’m hugely grateful we had the right cover, that we could manage the situation financially, and most importantly that Dan made a full recovery.

I’m also very happy to finally draw a line under this chapter.

And there is one slightly unexpected twist…

I’m now obsessed with China. 🇨🇳

It certainly wasn’t the way I expected to discover it, but it is one of the most fascinating and enthralling destinations I’ve experienced. That’s just the capital 😅

So I’ll be seeing more of China next year.

Hopefully for the food, culture, history and adventure.. rather than the hospital ❤️

06/10/2026

The easiest destination to pack for 😜 🇯🇵
Trip 6 incoming !

06/10/2026

We’re obsessed with Polar and expedition travel ❄️

Today we had a fantastic training session with Sarah from Quark Expeditions… and if Antarctica is on your travel wish list, this is exactly why expert advice matters.

There’s SO much to consider when planning the ultimate trip to the 7th continent.

Which penguins will you see… and where?

Which ship is right for you?

Drake Passage or fly across it?

When is the best time to go?

Which itinerary gives you the experience you’re actually looking for?

And then there’s the small matter of choosing between the many expedition options out there.

We left with enhanced knowledge and greater confidence in recommending the right operator for our clients.

Antarctica is one serious investment. We’re talking the cost of a brand new car in many cases, and when you’re spending that kind of money, you want to know you’ve chosen the right ship, the right itinerary and the right experience for you. It’s a decision worthy of professional assistance and deliberation.

It’s definitely not something you just click and book online even if though you can.

That’s where we come in.

We work with the experts and expedition specialists who know Antarctica inside out, so we can help you navigate the options rather than simply send you a list of cruises.

Because getting to the White Continent is a pretty big deal. Few people will actually achieve it. So make sure you do it properly.

Looking for a BIG adventure that’s far from the beaten track? We’d love to make it happen.

06/10/2026

Ultra luxury river cruising with zero solo supplement in 2027 … a great opportunity to try this amazing experience. Couples? Book a cabin each and enjoy the space and peace! 😜🤩

Travelling on your own? Now is the perfect time to experience Uniworld, with newly-launched no single supplement fees on a selection of our 2027 ultra-luxury river cruises. Prices are from…

🍷𝟴 𝗗𝗮𝘆 – 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗕𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗮𝘂𝘅 – 𝗦.𝗦. 𝗕𝗼𝗻 𝗩𝗼𝘆𝗮𝗴𝗲
𝟬𝟰𝘁𝗵 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗹, 𝗝𝗨𝗦𝗧 £𝟮,𝟲𝟵𝟵𝗽𝗽

🎨𝟴 𝗗𝗮𝘆 – 𝗕𝘂𝗿𝗴𝘂𝗻𝗱𝘆 & 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 – 𝗦.𝗦. 𝗖𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗲
𝟮𝟭𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵, 𝗝𝗨𝗦𝗧 £𝟮,𝟰𝟰𝟵𝗽𝗽

🏰𝟴 𝗗𝗮𝘆 – 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗔𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗲 – 𝗦.𝗦 𝗘𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲
𝟮𝟴𝘁𝗵 𝗼𝗳 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵, 𝗝𝗨𝗦𝗧 £𝟯,𝟳𝟵𝟵𝗽𝗽

🗼𝟴 𝗗𝗮𝘆 – 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘀 & 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘆 – 𝗦.𝗦 𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗲 𝗗𝗲 𝗩𝗶𝘃𝗿𝗲
𝟮𝟴𝘁𝗵 𝗼𝗳 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵, 𝗝𝗨𝗦𝗧 £𝟮,𝟳𝟵𝟵𝗽𝗽

☀️𝟴 𝗗𝗮𝘆 – 𝗗𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗼 𝗥𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝘆 – 𝗦.𝗦 𝗦𝗮𝗼 𝗚𝗮𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗹
𝟮𝟴𝘁𝗵 𝗼𝗳 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵, 𝗝𝗨𝗦𝗧 £𝟯,𝟭𝟵𝟵𝗽𝗽

⚱️𝟭𝟮 𝗗𝗮𝘆 – 𝗦𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗘𝗴𝘆𝗽𝘁 – 𝗥𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗧𝗼𝘀𝗰𝗮
𝟬𝟲𝘁𝗵 𝗼𝗳 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵, 𝗝𝗨𝗦𝗧 £𝟴,𝟬𝟵𝟵𝗽𝗽
Includes 4 nights at the Ritz Carlton Cairo

With extremely limited availability, these exclusive solo fares are available until 31 October 26 or sold out

𝗧𝗿𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗹 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝗼. 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴. 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗹𝘂𝘅𝘂𝗿𝘆, 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳.



Local taxes, resort fees, exchange rate fluctuations and other charges payable locally on arrival or departure may vary prior to travel Supplier: Uniworld

Ask for a bespoke quote All prices are subject to change and availability. T&Cs apply.
WhatsApp: 07546 437696‬
Email: [email protected]
Web form: www.coulter.travel/contact

02/10/2026

Exactly SIX years since we completed our training with Not Just Travel and were released as fledgling travel consultants into the big wide world. What have we learnt?

1. Loving travel and selling travel are two very different things. Anyone can have a passion for seeing the world but the dealing with the commercial realities? That’s completely different.

2. The cheapest holiday is rarely the best holiday.
True value is the bigger picture - what you get, how it feels and what happens when things don’t go to plan.

3. You can’t be everything to everyone.
Knowing who you work best with makes all the difference. And learning to say no? A skill in itself.

4. People don’t just buy holidays. They buy confidence.
The reassurance that someone knows what they’re doing, has thought of the details and actually cares.

5. Experience changes recommendations. There’s a huge difference between reading a description and actually being there. First-hand knowledge matters.

6. Not every enquiry is the right enquiry.
Time is our most valuable resource. Spending hours on a quote doesn’t guarantee a booking. We’ve learnt that the hard way.

7. The travel industry never stands still.
New ships, new destinations, new suppliers, new technology… and occasionally a new crisis too.

8. Your reputation is built on the bits nobody sees.
The detailed research, the networking, the calls, the problem-solving, monitoring, collaboration and all the small details that make your trip run smoothly.

9. You can be successful and still decide you want something different from everyone else. Growth isn’t always about getting bigger. Sometimes it’s about getting clearer on what you want your business and your life to look like.

10. Six years in, we’re still learning.
And that’s probably the biggest lesson of all. The more we travel, the more we realise how much there is left to discover.

We started out booking holidays for anyone. We’ve built a business around helping people see more of the world, in ways that matter to them.

Where will the next six years take us? We’re excited to find out.

01/10/2026

Alaska was on my “one day” list for years.

Then I stopped saying one day and actually went.

Glaciers. Wild landscapes. That feeling of finally seeing somewhere I’d dreamed about for years.

And honestly? It was so the wait.

So… what’s on your “one day” list?

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01/10/2026

We live in a society where more choice sounds like a good thing. And who doesn’t like a good browse?

But what if you’re trying to book a luxury family holiday? Or a multi-centre adventure? Or a first cruise?

Thousands of hotels. Hundreds of destinations and ships. Different room and cabin types. Flight combinations. Transfers. Airlines. Airports. Board basis.. Bed configurations. Baggage. Activities and excursions.

Throw into the mix different travel dates for some of the parties, plus mobility and dietary considerations.

And then the small matter of making sure the whole thing actually works together.

Suddenly, “I’ll just have a look online” has turned into hours… possibly days… of research, comparison, tabs, spreadsheets and admin. If you don’t love doing it, it becomes a headache.

I see my role not just as a travel agent but as a professional travel curator and advisor.

I get to know how you like to travel, what matters to you, what you don’t care about and what would drive you completely mad.

Then I filter the thousands of possibilities down to a shortlist tailored to you.

Because the value in what I do isn’t in giving you more options. It’s in giving you the right options.

And if someone who knows your style, does this every day and can take all that research and admin off your plate and can simplify your life…

Why wouldn’t you delegate it? And get your precious time back. That in itself is a cost saving.

Less scrolling and second-guessing.
More confidence that you’ve got the right trip.

Making a difference and adding value are the bits of travel planning I really love.

Big thanks to all our lovely repeat bookers last month. It’s always fantastic to work with you and what gorgeous trips too!

We hope you used the time you saved by booking with us doing something you enjoyed ❤️